Independent games have been around for a while, but their popularity on Nintendo consoles has increased significantly in recent years. In the past, game development was a costly process, requiring a significant amount of funding to produce and distribute games on a gaming platform like the Nintendo FC. This made it difficult for independent developers to enter the market, and most games were developed by well-established companies.
However, with the advent of online gaming, Nintendo's Wii and DSi consoles introduced online storefronts that allowed for digital distribution of games, including independent titles. One notable example of an independent game on these consoles is "Sticky World". Although independent games were still relatively scarce, the introduction of these digital storefronts marked the beginning of a new era for independent game development on Nintendo consoles.
The first platform to systematically support independent games was the Xbox 360, which introduced Xbox Live Indie Games in 2008. This allowed independent developers to sign up and receive support for creating and publishing games. The success of Xbox Live Indie Games paved the way for other console manufacturers to follow suit.
Today, Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony all have mechanisms in place to support independent games. Nintendo has been particularly active in promoting independent games, with notable examples including "SteamWorld Dig 2" and "Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom", both of which have seen significantly higher sales on the Nintendo Switch compared to other platforms. The popularity of independent games on the Switch can be attributed to its portability and convenience, as well as Nintendo's efforts to promote these titles.
While some may argue that the Switch eShop contains too many low-quality indie games, the relatively high quality and availability of these titles make them a welcome addition to the console's library. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how independent game development on Nintendo consoles continues to grow and mature.